KALAMAZOO, MI – The Green Bay Bullfrogs outlasted the Kalamazoo Growlers Wednesday night in 14 innings at Homer Stryker Field. The Bullfrogs got on the board in the first inning via a two-run home run from Troy Johnston. A throwing error on Growlers second baseman Nick Ziegler brought in another run for Green Bay, making it 3-0.
It looked like the Growlers offense might not be able to get anything going, much like Tuesday’s game. Green Bay starting pitcher Andy Archer gave up only 3 hits in 5 innings pitched.
In the eighth inning, the Growlers manufactured the three runs needed to tie the game. New Growlers centerfielder Matt Koehler reached on a single. Then, Jason Sullivan doubled, putting runners at second and third. A passed ball scored Koehler making it 3-1. Ivan Estrella tripled later that at bat, making the score 3-2. Andrew Huff scored the tying run off an infield single.
The bottom of the tenth saw the Growlers load the bases, only for first baseman Javier Martinez to ground out to first, extending the game. They had another chance in the 13th, where they stranded runners at the corners. The Growlers had 15 runners left on base on the night.
In the 14th, Green Bay started the inning with a single by Zach Plunkett. David Maberry advanced him with a single, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Aaron Pleschner brought in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Growlers and Bullfrogs will play again on Thursday in Kalamazoo. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
###
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.